Staff Listing

Sean Owen,Associate Research Prof.

Sean Owen is an associate research professor for the Research and Curriculum Unit. Prior to joining the RCU, he was a research professor for Mississippi State University's Center for Educational and Training Technology (CETT). Much of his CETT work included writing grants and curricula and administering and evaluating programs that integrated technology into core academic and career and technical areas in school districts statewide. Owen received a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with an emphasis in chemistry and psychology from the University of Mississippi. He also holds a Master of Science in biological sciences and a doctorate in education with a minor in teacher technology education. His research focus and experience primarily is in the applied sciences and career and technical education. Frequently presenting at local, state, and national conferences, he is an active member of the ACTE and Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America. Additionally, he is a former president of the Mississippi Educational Computing Association.

Ashley Priebe Brown, Project Manager

Ashley Priebe Brown is the project manager for a statewide performance assessment for career and technical pathways. Her work is grounded in the belief that when connected to a topic of interest, everyone can be creative, and everyone can learn. Her role includes development, delivery, and support for PBA and MS-CPAS testing. She writes manuals, memos, web content, reports, and articles for RCU publications. She also provides web development services for the RCU website and coaching support as part of the New Teacher Induction program. A graduate of Mississippi State University, Priebe Brown earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education and a Master of Arts in English. She is also TESOL certified and holds a Mississippi Educator License with endorsements in English and art. While earning her master's degree, Priebe Brown was a teaching assistant for Mississippi State University's English as a Second Language Center. Priebe Brown taught English I and II at Louisville High School and Language Arts and Literature at Armstrong Middle School prior to joining the RCU in July of 2012. She is a member of the Mississippi Association of Educators and the Mississippi Professional Educators.

Shelly Hollis, Project Manager

Shelly Hollis joined the RCU in November 2014 as a project manager. Her duties include managing the development and implementation of the K-12 computer science pilot program, managing and executing database and reporting projects, and supporting information systems related to professional learning. Prior to joining the RCU, she worked in a public school system managing district technology. In her technology role, Hollis provided training and support to administrators, faculty and staff on all devices and software, in addition to evaluating and contributing to purchase decisions. She also managed the student information system, district website, E-rate program, MSIS reporting, automated calling system, and data uploads for the district. Before moving to Mississippi in 2007, she co-owned and operated a database design company where she created, installed, and maintained customized pre-school enrollment-management and compliance software solutions. Hollis is a graduate of Huntingdon College in Alabama where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in computer science.

Bhanupriya Shanmugam, Project Manager

Bhanupriya Shanmugam first joined the Research and Curriculum Unit in June 2012 as a graduate research assistant, and now serves the applications solutions/information technology group as a project manager. In this role, she manages and executes database and reporting projects and supports information systems related to assessment and professional learning. She has two years of work experience as a software engineer for the banking domain of an information technology company. Shanmugam earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering in 2009 from Anna University in Chennai, India. In 2014 she received a master's degree in business administration with a focus in management information systems from MSU.

Michelle Taylor, Project Manager

Michelle Taylor plans and facilitates online professional development for multiple areas. She has a passion for business; and in her role with the RCU, she writes and plans online professional learning and assessment courses and teaches the online high school business courses. Taylor creates, conducts, and presents research on online professional development, online career-technical education, and blended learning. Taylor coordinates the assessment meetings and facilitates many of them. She earned an associate and bachelor's degree in business from Northeast Community College and the University of Mississippi respectively. She holds master's, specialist's, and doctoral degrees in instructional technology from MSU. She has earned a second master's degree in business administration. Her doctoral study focused on why educators did or did not complete the online professional-development courses they began. Before joining the RCU, she served as the business office technology instructor and department head for the campus at East Mississippi Community College (EMCC)—Scooba and taught eighth-grade computer discovery for 10 years at Baldwyn Middle School, as well as high school keyboarding, computer applications, computer maintenance/repair, psychology, and sociology. While working at Baldwyn and EMCC, Taylor wrote grants and attended workshops to aid her in this process. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Career and Technical Education. She also holds COOL, W!SE, IC3, iCAT, Propulse, and Novell certifications. Taylor is a master teacher for Intel in its Teaching Using Higher Levels of Thinking curriculum, as well as in the Essentials course. She has completed her administrator's training from the Mississippi Department of Education for secondary and post-secondary. She has a master teacher certification in economics and for entrepreneurship. Taylor is a member of multiple business and education associations, and she serves as the past-president of the Mississippi Business Education Association, president for the International Society of Business Education, and president-elect for the Southern Business Education Association. She also serves on many committees at the state and national levels for education, government, and industry including the United States Federal Reserve Board Educatory Advisory Board, MSU Financial Education Partnership, and a parent volunteer for Girl Scouts of America.

Amanda Gronewold, Graphic Designer

Amanda Gronewold joined the RCU in July of 2014, bringing nine years of experience ranging from award-winning newspaper advertising to web design. A Louisville, MS native, Gronewold earned her associate degree in art from East Central Community College in 2003, followed by a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from Mississippi University for Women in 2005. She oversees all aspects of graphic design for the RCU, including designing materials for the RCU's magazines, conference materials, websites, promotional toolkits, and reports, as well as items for Mississippi's career-technical student organizations.

Karleigh Kimbrell, Graduate Research Assistant

Karleigh Kimbrell is a graduate research assistant at the RCU and works on a variety of projects. She is a 2017 graduate of Mississippi State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in history and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English. Having previously worked with MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering as a writing tutor and with the Department of English as a teaching assistant, Karleigh’s love for learning new information led her to the RCU. After earning her master’s degree in English, Karleigh plans to pursue her doctorate in contemporary literature.

Judy Middleton, Project Coordinator

Judy Middleton, a project coordinator at RCU, works in the secondary and special education division developing teacher resources for special education professionals. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business management at the University of Minnesota and a Master of Arts in teaching at Mississippi State University. Prior to joining the university, she held several economic development positions in Ohio and was most recently a teacher in the Starkville-Oktibbeha County Consolidated School District.

Betsey Smith, Director

A career and technical educator for more than 19 years, Betsey Smith taught family and consumer science courses in Louisiana. She also helped create and implement a career center as the career counselor. She earned a Bachelor of Science in family and consumer science education from Louisiana State University and a master's in counseling from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. As Director, Smith oversees and provides strategic leadership, overall management, direct support and supervision for all aspects of the CTE-related activities and projects. She is an expert in school counseling education and family consumer science education, and she uses her expertise in assisting with writing and implementing curricula, providing leadership for a cross-functional team of professionals at the RCU, and collaborates with leaders across Mississippi.

Suzanne Bean, Project Manager

Prior to her work at the RCU, Suzanne M. Bean worked for 35 years as a teacher, faculty member, and leader in education across Mississippi. During her time as a professor of education at Mississippi University for Women, she was the founding director of the Roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning (currently, MUW Outreach and Innovation). She was awarded the MUW Medal of Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service, Lowndes County Outstanding Educator, and Parent of the Year for Columbus Municipal School District. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Association for Partners in Education. She has co-authored numerous books and publications, including the fourth edition of the textbook Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted (2015). She is a member of Leadership Mississippi and has served as president of the Mississippi Association of Gifted Children and director of the Mississippi Governor's School.

Gayle Fortenberry, Project Manager

Gayle Fortenberry is a project manager at the RCU and coordinates agricultural-education program development. She began her career in education as an agricultural education teacher in the Columbus Municipal School District where she spent 16 years as a teacher and FFA advisor. During this time, she was actively involved in the agricultural-education profession, serving as a curriculum writer for the development of the AEST program, an editorial board member for the national FFA New Horizons magazine, an advisory board member for Applied Technologies/Learning Labs Corporation, a coauthor for the Forests and Forestry textbook, and sole author for the Forests and Forestry Lab Manual and Teacher's Guide for Pearson Education. After leaving the classroom, Fortenberry worked for three years as an Advanced Placement coordinator at Columbus High School, through a grant that expanded access to AP programs to low-socioeconomic/at-risk students. Most recently, Fortenberry served as the state coordinator for the Mississippi FFA Association through the Office of Career and Technical Education and Workforce Development at the Mississippi Department of Education. In this role, she planned and coordinated all state-level FFA events and facilitated training and leadership activities of the state FFA officer team. While state FFA coordinator, Fortenberry served on the Mississippi FFA Foundation Board of Directors, the Mississippi FFA Alumni Council, the Mississippi Livestock Council, the Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions committee, and the STAR-Teach Agriculture Team for Mississippi. Fortenberry holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both agricultural education and agricultural communications and a master's degree in school administration, all from Mississippi State University.

Kenny Langley, Project Manager

Kenny Langley manages various science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula and projects, working with educators throughout the state to advance best practices. Some RCU projects include: Mississippi's 2018 science standards, CTE engineering, mechatronics, polymer science, STEM Applications, unmanned aerial systems, and the Maker movement in K-12 education. Prior to joining the RCU, Langley worked at Mississippi University for Women, managing training for math teachers and environmental education programs. He also taught science courses in Madison County schools before returning to Mississippi State University (MSU) for a master's degree in landscape architecture, focusing on water resources and sustainable development.

Mhaire Nickels, Receptionist

Mhaire Nickels, who joined the RCU in October 2015, serves as the RCU's receptionist. In this role, she directs calls and helps with enquiries, as well as other administrative duties. Prior to working at the RCU, Nickels worked for Mississippi State University's Department of Landscape Architecture, where she worked as an office associate, responsible for processing payroll, maintaining student files, and updating property and inventory. Her first job at Mississippi State University was in Student Account Services. Nickels, who is a native of Scotland, moved to Mississippi in 1996.

Myra Pannell, Associate Director

A National Board Certified teacher, Myra Pannell coordinates the Impact Learning team at the RCU and is responsible for implementing and supporting the MDE's innovative school initiatives such as career academies, early college high schools, districts of innovation, and instructional coaching. She earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education, a Master of Science in technology and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Mississippi State University. Pannell has 18 years of experience in education and holds IC3, COOL and Propulse certifications.

As a senior research associate at the RCU, Denise Sibley is responsible for conducting research and providing actionable information that contributes to the unit's secondary and special education efforts. She has more than 30 years of professional experience as a trainer, educator, and entrepreneur. She has a bachelor's degree in accounting, a masters in gifted studies and has studied international development and community college leadership. Prior to joining the RCU in 2003, she was on the faculty in the College of Business at Mississippi University for Women. Other professional experience includes starting a private consulting business and working with East Mississippi Community College's Workforce Development Program to provide training for dislocated workers.

Jo Ann Watts, Project Manager, Instructional Design Specialist

Since joining the RCU staff in 1994, Jo Ann Watts has been involved in the development of assessments and curricula for career and technical education programs in Mississippi. As an instructional design specialist for the architecture and construction cluster, she is responsible for all facets of the instructional-design process, including development and revision of the curricula and facilitating the corresponding assessments. She collaborates with subject-matter experts and instructors during course design and development, ensuring the curricula and assessments meet the expectations of all stakeholders. During her time at the RCU, Watts has been involved in the integration of academic and vocational education, has coordinated the state vocational education conference and computer discovery training, has served on the inservice design committee and was the project investigator for construction education.

Pam Stafford, Business Manager

As the Business Operations manager, Pam Stafford oversees the daily functions of the business office and the unit's operations. She manages and is responsible for balancing the RCU's yearly fiscal budget and serves as an expert and advisor in all business matters. She earned her Bachelor of Science in business education in 1990 and Master of Science in business technology in 1992. A member of the National Association of Professional Women, she was employed in the Mississippi State University Office of Admissions and Scholarships before joining the RCU.

Cindy Ming, Project Manager

As a project manager, Cindy Ming serves as an instructional coach for the RCU and is responsible for implementing and supporting MDE's innovative school initiatives. Ming also works on the development and implementation of state-wide curricula. Ming spent 15 years working for the Columbus Municipal School District, where she taught U.S. history. She graduated from Mississippi University for Women with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education.

Leanne Long, Assistant Research Professor

Leanne Long has extensive experience in the training and development of educators. She develops, coordinates, and presents face-to-face and online training for the state's career and technical educators. Her research interests include business education, technology education, distance learning, pre-service teacher education, effects of professional learning, and teacher retention. A Mississippi State University alumna, she holds a Bachelor of Science in technology teacher education, a Master of Science in technology, and a doctorate in education administration. She is a Walden Certified Online Educator and holds the Internet and Computing Core Certification.

Brad Skelton, Project Manager

Brad Skelton joined the RCU in 2012 as an instructional design specialist for the agriculture cluster. Currently, he directs the curriculum team in researching, developing, and modifying curricula for the RCU. He has over 15 years of experience in the landscape, parks and recreation management, and golf course industries. He also has over six years of experience in education, including former positions at Hinds Community College and the Mississippi Department of Education. Skelton earned a bachelor's degree in golf and sports turf management and a master's degree in technology from Mississippi State University, and is working toward his doctoral degree in higher education leadership at MSU. Skelton also holds the IC3 and C.O.O.L certifications and is an Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) alumni.

Theresa Wheeler, Project Manager, Research Specialist

As an RCU project manager, Theresa Wheeler contributes to the creation and revision of career and technical education curricula. Her background in research includes work completed under National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Science Foundation grants researching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Wheeler holds a Bachelor of Arts in general liberal arts with a research emphasis, and she has a Master of Science in sociology from Mississippi State University (MSU). She is currently pursuing a doctorate in criminology at MSU.

Cathy Curtis, Project Manager

Cathy Curtis joined the RCU in 2016 and works in assessment. Before starting at the RCU, she was a grant coordinator with Family-Centered Programs of the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. In this role, she coordinated Project AIM, a school-based mentoring program for students in Grades 3-8; Counseling Crusade Project, a three-tiered behavioral support and intervention program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade; and a 21st Century after-school program for students in Grades 3-8. Prior to working in program coordination, Curtis taught English at Starkville High School and French at West Point High School. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct English instructor at East Mississippi Community College. She holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education and a Master of Arts in English from Mississippi State University. Curtis also holds a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certification from Mississippi State.

Melissa Luckett, Instructional Design Specialist

Melissa Luckett joined the RCU in July of 2016. As an Instructional Design Specialist, she coordinates the curricula development process for the Human Services pathway and several other programs. Prior to joining the RCU, Luckett dedicated 12 years to her role as a parent volunteer in the Starkville Oktibbeha School District where she also served as a school board member. Luckett received her bachelor's degree and Master of Public Policy Administration from Mississippi State University.

Sandra Gibson, Instructional Design Specialist

Sandra Gibson joined the RCU as an instructional design specialist in 2016, working with the Computer Science for Mississippi (CS4MS) pilot program and with the assessment team. Gibson started her career as a senior inventory analyst for a Christian bookstore company, where coordinated and reconciled quarterly inventories for 75 stores nationwide. She also previously worked at a major outdoor sporting-goods company in the finance department. In this role, Gibson researched vendor finance discrepancies and maintained and reconciled the yearly advertising-cost dataset. As a recent graduate of Mississippi State University with a master's degree in computer science, she brings with her a wealth of technical knowledge.

LaNell Kellum, Project Manager

As a project manager at the RCU, LaNell Kellum supports the RCU's special education and secondary education efforts. She is an accomplished administrator with an extensive background in educational administration, research, project development and management, and teaching in Mississippi and Oklahoma. Kellum holds a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from Mississippi State University, MSU, where she also received her master's and bachelor's degrees in education. Dr. Kellum previously served as the Director of Postsecondary Career and Technical Education for the MS Community College Board and as Senior Research Associate for the Stennis Institute of Government and the Research and Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State University. Kellum previously directed the Eastern Oklahoma Educational Opportunity Center at Rogers University. She also served the Columbus (Mississippi) School District, where she directed McKellar Technology Center, served as principal of Columbus High School, and acquired and managed reading and technology state grants, and was the district's first Early College Facilitator. During her career, Kellum has developed state curriculum frameworks, conducted research, designed and conducted professional development for teachers and administrators, and chaired state work teams to acquire federal education and workforce development funds for the Mississippi Department of Education and the MS Community College Board.

Anne Brinkmann, Project Manager

As a project manager, Anne Brinkmann serves as an instructional coach for the RCU and is responsible for implementing and supporting innovative school initiatives. Brinkmann earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from the University of Georgia and previously served as a digital lead teacher, providing professional development on how to integrate technology to standards-based instruction. Brinkmann has worked on various curriculum projects for social studies and mathematics to provide differentiated content for teachers. She was a teacher for six years and has an ESL endorsement. Brinkmann was a 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year finalist in Walton County School District in Florida.

Carl Smith, Editor

Carl Smith joined the RCU in October of 2017 as editor. He edits numerous RCU documents and works, including MS-CPAS test banks, curricula, internal communications, and external materials. Smith also assists with managing the RCU's social media efforts, contributes to grant proposals, and writes for RCU magazines and other publications. Before joining the RCU, Smith had a seven-year career in journalism and worked for several newspapers in Mississippi. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University.

Sam Watts, Project Manager

Sam Watts joined the RCU in November of 2017 as the project manager for health sciences. His duties include managing, developing, and fine-tuning the various health science curricula in Mississippi and incorporating the help of educators across the state to implement best practices. Prior to joining the RCU, Sam played football at Mississippi State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology, with a focus on sports business. He then worked in construction before becoming a public school teacher here in Mississippi, where he taught physical education at the elementary and junior high levels, while teaching mathematics at the secondary level. Sam returned to MSU to earn a master's degree in exercise physiology while working as a health education specialist for the university.

Romika Sudduth-Conley, Project Coordinator

As a project coordinator, Romika maintains RCU inventory, processes payroll and leave, and performs a number of additional business and operational tasks. Sudduth-Conley joined the RCU in 2017 with nearly a decade of experience working in banking, finance, and bookkeeping. She previously worked for the Mississippi State University Facilities Management Department as payroll assistant, where her duties included processing payroll, leave, and hiring paperwork. Sudduth-Conley holds an associate’s degree from East Mississippi Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University.

Amanda Wood, Project Manager

Amanda Wood joined the RCU in 2018 as a Project Manager. She manages various science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula and projects. Prior to joining the RCU, Amanda taught Engineering at Tupelo Career Technical Center for six years. She has a bachelor’s degree in physics and another in mathematics from the University of Mississippi. She obtained her Masters in Special Education in Gifted, Talented, and Creative from Arkansas State University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher.

Hannah Ford, Graduate Research Assistant

Hannah Ford is a graduate research assistant and works on the Computer Science for Mississippi (CS4MS) National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. She coordinates details and provides support aligned to the goals of the grant which will develop licensure requirements and additional PD for computer science teachers.

Courtney Martin, Accountant

Jason Hauser, Editor

Jason Hauser joined the communication, research, and evaluation team in July of 2018. As an editor, he helps to ensure the quality of RCU’s various publications, communications, and assessment materials. Prior to joining the RCU, Hauser earned a BA and an MA in history from Appalachian State University and a PhD in American history from Mississippi State University, where he taught for six years. In addition to his classroom experience, Hauser has also served as a researcher for the MSU history department and the Calhoun National Forest’s Critical Zone Observatory.

Chris Gotwald, Project Manager

Chris joined the RCU in 2018 as a project manager for the operations team. In this role, he handles and maintains the RCU’s course registration program and database. His experience working in operations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child allowed him to gain a breadth of knowledge that he can tap as the RCU continues to grow and serve the students and teachers of Mississippi. He earned a master’s degree in exercise science from Appalachian State University, located in his hometown of Boone, North Carolina.

Joseph Dudgeon, Project Coordinator

Joseph Dudgeon joined the RCU in July of 2018 as the business office project coordinator. In this role, he manages the RCU’s various honorariums and contracts, coordinates facility management services for RCU functions, and provides general support for office and administrative tasks. Before joining the RCU, Dudgeon worked as a project coordinator for a general contractor in Austin, Texas, that helped to renovate and build schools. Dudgeon, a newlywed, followed his wife to Mississippi State University, where she is working toward a PhD in statistics. Dudgeon holds a degree in business administration from Texas State University.

Brian Dorsey, Project Coordinator

Brian Dorsey is a project coordinator for the RCU. In this role, he oversees secondary national certification efforts and implements IAD meeting processes. Before joining the RCU, Dorsey taught information and communication technology courses at Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District’s Armstrong Middle School in Starkville. Dorsey has more than 10 years of educational experience at the middle school and high school levels.

Mike Adam, Project Manager

Mike Adam joined the RCU in 2018 as a project manager. In this role, he conducts psychometric analyses of the Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System. Before holding this position, Adam spent eight years as an educator in both the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and the Columbus Municipal School District, where he taught biology and general science courses as well as advised multiple extracurricular student clubs. Adam has also served as an adjunct sociology instructor at Holmes, Itawamba, and East Central community colleges. Adam first worked for the RCU in 2008, initially as a graduate research assistant and then as a research associate. Adam received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and general liberal arts, with an emphasis in anthropology, biology, and psychology, from Mississippi State University. He also holds a master’s degree in sociology.

As the business operations project coordinator, Joseph Dudgeon coordinates all project management activities and attends to equipment and information concerns. He also maintains event plans, monitors their progress, and handles issues as they arise.

Communication, Research, and Evaluation

Amanda Gronewold joined the RCU in July of 2014 as a graphic designer. She oversees all aspects of graphic design for the RCU, including designing materials for the RCU's magazines, conference materials, websites, and reports.

Shelly Hollis joined the RCU in November 2014 as a project manager. Her duties include the development and implementation of Mississippi's K-12 computer science pilot program (CS4MS), data reporting, and supporting information systems.

Kenny Langley joined the RCU in 2015 as a Project Manager. His efforts include R&D for the state's new science standards and computer science initiative, as well as revision and expansion of the state's STEM Pathway/Cluster curricula, and coordination of a statewide Maker education group.

Jo Ann Watts joined the RCU staff in 1994. As a project manager, she is responsible for all facets of the instructional-design process for the architecture and construction cluster, including curricula development and revision.

Professional Learning & School Innovations

Myra Pannell, a senior research associate for the RCU, provides leadership and oversight of the RCU's work on innovative school initiatives, including career academies, early college high schools, districts of innovation, and instructional coaching.

Suzanne Bean serves as a project manager at the RCU. She provides leadership in special education and professional learning, including statewide initiatives, training educators, and leadership development.

As a senior research associate at the RCU, Denise Sibley is responsible for conducting research and providing actionable information that contributes to the unit's secondary and special education efforts.

Michelle Taylor plans and facilitates online professional development for multiple areas. She has a passion for business; and in her role with the RCU, she writes and plans online professional learning and assessment courses and teaches the online high school business courses.

As an RCU project manager, Theresa Wheeler creates, revises, and facilitates online professional learning. She also serves as the systems administrator for the RCU's learning management system, Canvas.